The embattled shipyard that built the Titanic is facing the threat of strikes over plans to force workers to come in on Fridays.
Members of the GMB union at Harland & Wolff’s Belfast shipyard overwhelmingly voted for industrial action on Monday, amid a backlash against proposals to extend their working hours.
It is understood that managers are seeking to move away from a four-day week to a mandatory five-day one as the amount of work at the shipyard increases.
The yard is trying to refinance. It’s not obvious that it will be able to do so – and therefore will go bust.
But the plan for longer hours has sparked outrage among workers, who currently receive overtime pay for working Fridays under arrangements secured by unions decades ago.
But they’re willing to strike over overtime on Fridays.
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